Personal Questionnaire
for first initiation candidates of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami
Answer the following questions concisely and
honestly.
1. Which apply to you? (Check all that apply)
 I live at a Temple Asram doing seva there.
 I live at home regularly offering (full-time
/part-time) devotional service at:
 The ISKCON Temple. {If yes, Temple
Name: .................................... }
 The local Nama Hatta {If yes, Nama Hatta
Name: ..............................…}
 I also belong to a local Bhakti Branch
(Cell) group and regularly attend.
 Other:_......................................................
...........................................
2. Have you regularly chanted 16-rounds of Hare
Krsna mahamantra japa during the past two years
or since taking Harinama Initiation (whichever is
shorter)? ( Yes/  No)
a) In a month how many did you miss on the
average? .....…..
b) Did you make up missed rounds:Yes/No
3. a) Do you regularly attend temple Mangal Arati
everyday? ( Yes/  No)
b) How many days missed in a month on the
average? ............ Days.
4. Have you had a fixed or steady devotional
service during the past 12-months? (
Yes/  No)
What have been your services?
………………………………………………
………………………………………………
………………………………………………
5. a) Have you ever left the temple, stopped
attending Nama Hatta or stopped performing
your responsibilities and services without
permission of the spiritual authorities? ( Yes/
 No)
b) Have you ever willfully disobeyed or
neglected to follow an order of the spiritual
master since your first initiation? ( Yes/ 
No); if Yes, give details [time, place, etc.]:
.........................................................................
...................................................
6. Do you regularly bathe early in the morning and
otherwise maintain cleanliness
(fingernails, hair, clothes, etc.) { Yes/ 
No}
7. Are you implicated or involved in any
dishonesty such as theft, breaking state
laws etc. during the past two years? Are
you guilty of child abuse? { Yes/  No}
If Yes, give detail
.........................................................................
..........................................……….
8. Have you told untruth to a senior devotee
during the past 2 years? { Yes/  No}
9. How many times have you read the following
books:
a. Bhagavad Gita as it is ......
b. Srimad Bhagavatam first canto.......
c. Srimad Bhagavatam 2 to 5 cantos (or which
cantos).............
d. Srimad Bhagavatam 6 to 9 cantos (or which
cantos).............
e. Krsna book....................
f. Caitanya Charitamrta (which volumes if not
all)...............
g. Teachings of Lord Caitanya ...........
h. Nectar of Devotion..................
i. Which other BBT books have you
read?.......................……………...
10. Are you prone to depression and material
anxiety? { Yes/  No}
11. Have you ever considered committing suicide
or leaving ISKCON during the previous 24-
months? { Yes/  No}
12. Are you presently particularly agitated by any
of the senses to the extend that you fear that
you are in eminent danger of falling down? {
ISKCON Temple Harinama Practical Questionnaire......2

Yes/  No}If yes, mention source(s) of i. Do you contribute any percentage or amount
agitation: ........................................................ from your income to Lord Krsna's service?
..... { Yes/  No} If so, give
details:..............................................................
13. Do you avoid offending vaisnavas and un- ..........................………………………..
constructive criticism of devotees? {
Yes/  No} If no mention what: j. Do you have capacity, plans or the idea for
increasing your devotional service? { Yes/ 
.............................................................................. No} If yes, what?
............................…………………….. ………………………………………………..
14. REGARDING RTVIKISM: k. Do you generally avoid eating anything but
prasadam? { Yes/  No} If No what
a. Have you heard about Rtvikism?:  No, haven't
exception?
heard.  Yes, I've heard through:
……………………………………………
b.  Newspaper  Internet  Rtvik adherents l. Which of the following are spiritual
talked to me.  Devotees warned me. problems/challenges for you?
 Other: …….......................................... i)  Watching mundane television
c. If you have heard, what is your opinion about ii)  Watching mundane movies
Rtvikism?: ………………....................
iii)  Gossiping and rumour spreading
d. Have you become doubtful by pro-rtvik iv)  Involvement in frivolous sports
preaching or believed in rtvikism? {
Yes/  No} v)  Over-endeavor for mundane things
15. FOR DEVOTEES WHO live outside the vi)  _____________________________
temple:
vii)  _____________________________
a. How often do you visit the 16. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ONLY FOR
temple? ................... THOSE WHO POSSIBLY MAY MARRY:
……………………………… a. If you ever get married, would you first try to
b. How often do you attend the nama hatta marry only an initiated vaisnava devotee
meetings?………………………………… (ISKCON) and if not available then only marry
a pious vegetarian person? { Yes/ 
c. Do you practice a daily sadhana routine of
rising before sunrise chanting? { Yes/  No} No}
b. Would you consult with ISKCON authorities
d. Which local ISKCON temple or Nama Hatta and the guru before and while making such
sangha do you attend on a regular basis?
decision? { Yes/  No}
………………………………………………
……………………………………………… c. Do you know the rules of Krsna conscious life
including regulations for Krsna conscious sex
e. Are you connected to any other religious life? { Yes/  No}
organization/s? Which ones? What kind of
service do you offer to them? d. Do you feel capable of following # c above? {
………………………………………………… Yes/  No}
………………………………………………… e. Do you think the married life will affect your
f. Are you married? { Yes/  No} present service? { Yes/  No}; If yes, how?
Give
g. If are are not married do you plan to or would details: .............................................................
like to get married in the near future? { Yes/
 No/  Not applicable} .
f. Are you engaged to marry? { Yes/  No}
h. If you are not married and do not intend to get g. Were you married before? { Yes/  No}
married, do you plan to join a temple in the
future? { Yes/  No} When or why not? h. Express your position regarding any future
………………………………………… marriage alliance. ____________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
ISKCON Temple Harinama Practical Questionnaire......3

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QUESTIONS FOR GRIHASTHAS LIVING you able to follow [Check all that apply, or
WITH WIFE (NOT TOTALLY CELIBATE): indicate if you prefer explaining personally to
(Leave blank if not Grhastha) [NOTE:This can be the Guru.]:
presented to the guru in a closed envelope since it
is personal details not suitable for everyone’s  1. Generally follow but only occasionally
vision.] not able to follow.
17. PRACTICING REGULATED FAMILY
LIFE:  2. Relations once per month (although not
a. Vaisnava Grihastas who practice sex-life necessarily for procreation).
according to vedic literatures for the purpose
 3. Relations more than once per month
of procreation of Krishna conscious children
(although not necessarily for procreation).
are doing a devotional service to Lord Krishna
and are considered to be “grihastha  4. Relations according to the Manu
brahmacaris”. There is no hard and fast rule Samhita codes (non-ekadasee, etc.)
limiting how many children a grihasta may
have, but it is recommended that they only try  5. Relations without any strict regulation
to have children one day per month. That day within marriage.
"garbhodhana samskara" is practised by
increasing spiritual activities and chanting  6. Any other
extra rounds and praying to Guru and Krishna standard:________________________
for sending a pure devotee child. Do you
 7. I prefer to explain personally to the
practice this standard of grihasta life? [Yes /
Guru.
No/ Trying]
b. If you have not been following the above 18. Regarding family planning matters: a. Do you
standard at present are you prepared to do so use modern family planning techniques,
[YES / NO / Will try / __________ ] contraceptives or do you intend to use them or
b. If you are not able to commit to following the have an abortion in the future? { Yes/  No}
above standard due to any extenuating b. Have you or your spouse undergone a
circumstances, after initiation are you sterilization operation? { Yes/  No}
committed to practicing a regulated sex-life
using only natural methods of planning a c. Are you sure and committed that you will never
family and to avoid excesses? [Yes / No / See undergo sterilization in the future or perform an
Note] abortion? (If you have any doubt on this then
c. If you are not able to practice standard “a.” answer NO.) { Yes/  No}
above kindly explain what obstacle(s) you face
that prevent you from doing so. Do you face 19. a. Are you training your dependent children to
any of the following obstacles in practicing be Krsna conscious devotees? { Yes/ 
regulated family life [Check all that apply, or No}
indicate if you prefer explaining personally to
the Guru.] b. Do you feed them only prasadam and
 1. My spouse (marriage partner) is not a vegetarian food? (YES/NO)
practicing devotee which makes it difficult.
 2. We cannot have children (more
children), but cannot remain fully celibate.
 3. We do not want more children but
cannot remain fully celibate.
 4. In order to preserve the marriage more
relations are required.
 5. I am personally not able to commit to
that level of celibacy.
 6. Other obstacle in
following:________________________
 7. I prefer to explain personally to the
Guru.
d. If you are not able to follow standard “a.”
above then which of the following levels are